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The two-day conference at Jesus College on Thursday and Friday (July 13-14) is the first major event held by the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence, since its globally-publicised launch by Stephen Hawking and other AI luminaries in October last year.

Venue: Jesus College, Cambridge

Among those taking part are the Astronomer Royal Martin Rees, from Cambridge, Matt Hancock, West Suffolk MP and Minister for Digital and Culture, Baroness Onora O'Neill, and Francesca Rossi of IBM.

Martin Rees

Dr Stephen Cave, executive director of CFI, said: “Rarely has a technology arrived with such a rich history of myth, storytelling and hype as AI. The first day of our conference will ask how films, literature and the arts generally have shaped our expectations, fears and even the technology itself.

“The second day will ask how and when we can trust the intelligent machines on which we increasingly depend – and whether those machines are changing how we trust each other."

Matt Hancock

Programme highlights include:

Sci-Fi Dreams: How visions of the future are shaping development of intelligent technology

Truth Through Fiction: How the arts and media help us explore the challenges and opportunities of AI

Metal people: How we perceive intelligent robots – and why

Trust, Security and the Law: Assuring safety in the age of artificial intelligence

Trust and Understanding: Uncertainty, complexity and the ‘black box’

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Prof Huw Price, academic director of the centre, and Bertrand Russell Professor of Philosophy at Cambridge, said: “During two packed days in Cambridge we’ll be bringing together some of the world’s most important voices in the study and development of the technologies on which all our futures will depend.

Launching the £10m centre last year, Prof Hawking said: “Success in creating AI could be the biggest event in the history of civilisation but it could also be the last – unless we learn how to avoid the risks. Alongside the benefits, AI will also bring dangers like powerful autonomous weapons or new ways for the few to oppress the many.

“We cannot predict what might be achieved when our own minds are amplified by AI. The rise of powerful AI will either be the best or the worst thing to happen to humanity. We do not yet know which.”